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With the release of DeSean Jackson, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin will now reach his potential as a fantasy football star with the Philadelphia Eagles.
In previous years, drafting a wide receiver for the Eagles has been extremely frustrating to say the least. Between individual injuries, quarterback injuries and inconsistent play, Jackson and Maclin have either helped your team or completely killed your dreams. With a stable option at quarterback, an offensive-minded Chip Kelly and an expectation to be fully healthy before the start of the season, it should be an incredible year for the 25-year-old Maclin.
Maclin and Jackson each have had seasons of strong fantasy production, but they started to cut into the production of each other. Maclin really came into his own in 2010 with 964 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, but it prevented Jackson from having a dominant fantasy season. Jackson’s 2010 stats of 47 receptions, 1,056 receiving yards and six touchdowns were down from his 2009 stats of 63 receptions, 1,167 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
Just from the decrease in touchdowns and yardage, Jackson scored 29 fewer fantasy points when Maclin had his strong 2010 campaign.
Just as Jackson’s production was hampered because of his teammate, Maclin’s touchdown production was lowered because of Jackson. The new receiver for the Washington Redskins scored 16 touchdowns between 2010 to 2012, and Maclin could have arguably been the target of many of those touchdown passes that went to Jackson.
Health is a huge concern when you consider drafting Maclin. He has only played one full season in his entire career, and it is unknown how he will respond on the field when he returns from his ACL tear that prevented him from playing in the 2013 season.
If he can remain healthy, Maclin will not have to worry about competing to be the premiere receiver. Kelly has found out how to properly use LeSean McCoy, and McCoy’s role in the offense helped to open things up for Jackson and allowed him to have his best season ever. Receivers Riley Cooper and Zach Ertz will have their moments, but this offense will be owned by McCoy and Maclin.
Fantasy players still do not fully trust Nick Foles, and they will be skeptical of Maclin because of his injury history. This should allow you to draft Maclin anywhere between the seventh and 10th rounds.
You can let everyone else use a sixth-round pick on Wes Welker, because you will have a top-10 receiver in Maclin.
Jack Delaney is a fantasy football writer for www.Rantsports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @jackbmore13, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on Google.
